I think it’s fair to say Parramatta goes into the 2011 season with a lot of question marks hanging over its backline. The first indicator of quality is how many of your backs are likely to contest for representative positions, and really for Parramatta there’s only one back right now that would be expected to win a rep jersey and that’s Jarryd Hayne.
FULLBACK
Hayne is obviously the class factor in the Parramatta side. He is unstoppable one-on-one and there is no more dangerous player to chime into a backline because he can set up supports as effectively as if runs himself.
For me, this year will decide Jarryd’s future. He is NSW fullback, not because he is technically a great fullback but because he is an incredible athlete. Where Billy Slater has always had it over Jarryd is that he is also an amazing athlete, but he is also technically flawless as a custodian. He is constantly talking, organising his back and always working as hard off-the-ball as he does on it. If Jarryd doesn’t match up this year in that regard, not only is he know hope of dislodging Slate but he will be in extreme danger of losing the Sky Blue one jersey.
I’m going to assume given the pre-season flogging the Eels have received, that fitness is not going to be an issue, in which case its just a matter of Jarryd remaining mentally strong and focused for the full eighty minutes. He also needs to step up in terms of leadership and be our general in marshaling the defense. If Hayne does both, he is potentially the greatest fullback the game has ever seen.
Steven Kearney’s challenge is to reduce the number of touches that Hayne has, but to make those touches count. Parramatta suffered badly last year from Hayne being over-involved. It meant that we had no-one following the play from a support perspective and it enabled teams to focus on Hayne and reduced his effectiveness. Whenever we had nothing doing we threw it to Hayne and hoped he could create something. When really the only time the ball should go to Hayne is when there is something on. Whether it be in support of a short ball or from a structured backline move against an undermanned defence, Hayne should only be chiming in when points are on offer and we require his edge of class to capitalise. When there is nothing the doing, the side should simply keep whacking away until it gets into a worthwhile position to try and set something up. That’s probably going to be the biggest change you see in the Parramatta side this year.
There will no doubt be times during the year when Parramatta is without Hayne, either through injury or representative duties. I do hope Parramatta immediately put Luke Burt back to one. Burt isn’t the representative class of fullbacks but he does all those technical aspects of the role very well and like Hayne, he has that edge of class, where he can be called into the backline to capitalise on an opportunity.
Tom Humble, to my mind, would then come in at third drop. All of these three are fullbacks who can throw a pass, so Parramatta can train around having that extra playmaker chiming in regardless of who is in the role.
CENTRE
Let’s look at centre because the three-quarters is a position that could shape as a problem particularly if our depth is tested.
Right now, it’s hard to presume who is going to start in the centres. Joel Reddy and Chris Walker are both under fitness clouds, Paul Whatuira hasn’t had a lot of pre-season football and Ryan Morgan and Jacob Loko are young and green.
To my mind, the starting centres should be, assuming they’re both fit, Reddy and Whatuira. Neither are going to win you a game by standing up their opposite, but both are good finishers who defend well.
Chris Walker has never really coped defensively at NRL level in the centres. Local junior Ryan Morgan has apparently come along well but is also untested.
And then there is Jacob Loko. Under ideal circumstances, Loko would debut this season, probably around representative season, coming in on the wing. With another full off-season behind him, and plenty of senior football, he’d then be a contender for your starting or first drop centre next year. However, in terms of outside backs, we’re working with circumstances a fair distance from what might be considered ideal. If Reddy isn’t ready for Round One, I’d be sorely tempted to throw Loko in there. Yes, he may get torn up, but equally he could rise to the occasion as he did when thrown into NYC last year. Given its a short-term vacancy, it would at least give Loko and the club a genuine appreciation for where he’s at.
Because I don’t think its unreasonable to suggest we’re probably missing that bit of class in the three-quarters. You can win games without a flashy centre, but when it gets to the business end of the season it certainly gets a lot harder without a centre that you know is a fair chance of turning half a chance into a try.
WINGERS
Luke Burt gets one flank, no questions asked. A classy finisher who is on fire with his goal-kicking, it’s one of the positions not up for debate.
For me, Chris Hicks takes the other. He comes to the club after a successful season in the Super League and you know he’s not going to let anyone down. Another play though, who hasn’t been sighted during the pre-season. Chris Walker is the other option right now, and I’m much more comfortable seeing him on the wing.
Jordan Atkins is the biggest of our wingers, and size is something we definitely lack from our flankers. It’s not going to be easy working up the park if we’re dominated on the early tackles and if I was an opposition coach I’d be stressing to my team that if they tackle aggressively on tackles one, two and three they stand a good chance of limiting Parramatta’s yardage. Indeed, rather than avoiding Jarryd Hayne on the kick return, I’d be concentrating on kicking to him and presenting him with a strong, straight line and then picking off the wingers on the next couple of tackles.
This problem is again going to bring Loko into calculations, this time as a flanker. A strong second hit-up is one of the most appreciated, but most important, facets of the modern-day game. It means you either start the set going forward or on your heels. Loko would solve that problem, but he hasn’t played a lot of wing and he would be targeted with both the high ball and also made to make plenty of defensive decisions. Etu Uasaile didn’t do himself any favours in the Penrith trial with a few mistakes. He’s not big either and can struggle against good jumpers, but he is a powerful runner.
CONCLUSION
When you look at our outside backs you realise just how important structured play is going to be for Parramatta. Without a Timana Tahu or even a Krisnan Inu, you can’t just simply aim to create space and throw it wide and hope some individual brilliance is going to spark something. We are going to need to set up in the opposition red zone, pass crisply, have plenty of decoys and bodies in motion, and then run our lines perfectly to try and open up whatever space we’ve created. And mostly rely on Hayne to turn our opportunities into four pointers.
It’s worth noting that despite scoring plenty of tries in our last two trials, none of them came from what you would describe as a typical, flourishing backline movement. I remain worried that is going to translate into an ability to score to points. And as I’ve pointed out here, I’m also concerned that our inability to start our sets strongly, is going to somewhat nullify our strong forward game and make it difficult to play that grafting style that typically relies on winning the territory battle.
There are still a lot of questions surrounding our outside backs and it’s the area of our roster I consider to be weakest. Who knows? We may go through the season with relatively few injuries and not need to call on our depth. Loko or Morgan could come into the side and blow us away. Jarryd Hayne may prove untouchable again. Whatever way it falls, I see these positions as the areas where we’ll need to over-achieve if we’re to keep up with the competition front-runners rather than just be competitive.
You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!
Replies
Great piece Phil. Your points about LIMITING the touches from Hayne is spot on - a necessary strategy to ALLOW our halves the chance to step up and be more involved, and also allows the dummy half to have confidence (later on) in choosing between distributing the ball to EITHER Hayne or the Halves, depending on the situation. The problem right now is that when ever Hayne calls for the ball, the dummy half will pass it to him....even if a better option is available - and that's the dummy half deferring to Hayne, instead of playing the situation....it's NOT Haynes fault, but it is problematic (too predictable for defenders) and therefore MUST be changed
Your comments about Burt are indisputable
Walker ??.....for mine he's a winger and nothing more. His lack of Footy IQ is a worry for me, and without REALLY studying Walker, my gut feeling is that he is vulnerable to be caught out of position, as his match awarenes skills are poor......................Run Forrest Run........put him on the WING
The one observation that you made that I will be very interested to see is your theory of STRUCTURED PLAY. I agree 100% that bodies in motion, single and double decoy runners etc etc is an area that Parra MUST TRY to include in their attacking bag of tricks - THE PROBLEM - has been that Parra has NEVER, EVER used this aspect of the modern game to any degree. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that Parra RARELY use the bodies in motion tactic, and when they do, they execute poorly
This, to me, is the No1 area for Parra's backline to grow. Melbourne use the decoy plays brilliantly, and I assume that since Kearney is a Bellamy desciple - we SHOULD see Parra include this tactic as part of our general play in opposition territory
Due to Parra's non-history of using these plays (apart from RARELY) - I think this will take at least one third to half of season 2011 to be EFFECTIVE - our Halves certainly have little or no experience here, and TIMING is critical for those plays to succeed......So patience will be required from players coaches and fans alike.....Parra MUST persevere with this tactic....as it will ALSO take PRESSURE off Hayne
Interesting obervation about Hayne being the best fullback to have played the game if he improves in his "generalship" of marshalling troops in defense - I think LEADERSHIP at Parra has a HUGE question mark hanging around and Parra certainly NEED better LEADERSHIP in 2011 - and Hayne will continue to grow in that leadership role - but best fullback of all time - I don't think so.....I believe Hayne will play MOST of his career at 5/8 - its only a matter of time before the switch is made.....that is why he wont be the best fullback of all time - he'll be a 5/8
Awesome artical Phil, I really enjoyed the read
Go The Eels
Great article Phil, and nice follow up tele1. You're both pretty much on the money for mine - although I must admit I'm more concerned about the halves pairing before we get to the challenge with our outside backs... good service and execution in the halves needs to occur before our outsiders even get a look in - so that's our #1 challenge in '11.
The only thing I will add is that I think this year is REDDY'S biggest in his career. If he is going to take that next step, it's gotta be NOW. The Eels need him, and NSW needs him. This is the best opportunity he is going to get to shine. He is now the premier centre at the club, and he needs to show it. We know he is capable, FIRE UP SON!
Will - I'm going to contest your definition of a centre's role mate. Centres are meant to be able to finish, yes, but their primary role is in CREATING space and linking the plays (actively or passively as a decoy). Defensively, they have the toughest role of all - making sure the numbers add up and knowing when to rush up or maintain the line.
Great post mate, really good break down of where we are at and where we can end up. I look forward to the following 'chapters'.
Just one thing though, about Parra never really running plays and not being able to execute well when they do, I think that we all have to sit back for a bit and wait for round one to know if this statement holds true. I think that Kearney has brought a much more structured gameplan to Parramatta, he has spent enough time at the Storm to know how to get this into place. I hate the Storm like crazy but nobody can argue the fact that they are like a machine, and machine that just keeps on running and keeps the game alive and in a winnable position for the full eighty.
Yeah its true we dont have a Rep heavy backline...or team for that matter, but I think he has focused the creation of a solid and relentless team unit rather then hoping the offloads or individual brilliance comes off every game. I still think that we are a true dark horse this season, with Parra's gritty new in your face style sure to stun a few opponents.
Good read... True that centre is a weakness for the first few rounds, i wonder if the likes of Karl Filiga may get a look in, or maybe lasalo or Horo trialling out there??
I also see Walker as a winger, not a fan of him in centres. Although we may have to play him there....
Hayne, again has alot on his shoulders, the thing i want to see from Hayne this year improve, is his positional play, he was sloppy with it last year.
Reddy has to stand up this year....
I'm looking forward to seeing how the new recruits, and those that didn't have the best year last year bounce back.
Personally, I think that all can do well, but there will be some stiff competition from the younger players that have been mentioned in Morgan and others.
Being the extreme optimist that I am, I'd like to think that our back-line can step it up and perform well week in and week out, so I'm looking forward to seeing the effect that Stephen Kearney will have on the team, and the way they play.
With respect to Walker, I too thought he was just a winger, but two years ago, Cartwright had him playing in the centres for the Titans and he often ventured infield to burst onto some inside balls from Prince or Rogers with dramatic effect. He can sniff out opportunities so I don't know where you going with your comment about 'footy IQ'
He's still quick and elusive in attack and really the only worry with him is that he's still a poor defender.
Thx Bourbs - as I said, I have not really studied Walker too much, I'll admit that - so If you reckon you have seen things that impress while playing in the Centres - I'll take that on board - In the end - he is an Eel - I hope he plays really well and exceeds all our expectations - but there has always been a nagging question mark in my mind about him, I have never regarded Walker as a player that could SET UP Try's like Centres have to, and that is what I mean by his Footy IQ (does he have the skills and guile to CREATE as well as FINISH Try's - to me, Walker is a great down hill runner - give him a little space and run straight ahaead plays seem to be his strong suit - hence my preference (without fully studying him) for the wing
If scouting around our halves and getting some handy inside balls is a strong suit of Walkers - well that will be great - an ideal replacement for those Eric Grothe Jr charges that will be sadly missed - so if Walker can provide relief & SPARK from inside run - well all the better
Thx for your comments Bourban Man
Agree I never really rated Walker, but must admit out of all the reports of the new blokes we have acquired, Walker sounds the most promising!
And cant wait to see Reni play again, IMO he will be the buy of the season, coming back from suspension with a massive point to prove.
Thanks Tele. If it was me, I'd move Jarryd as well but I've given up on it happening. The only way I can see it happening is if we get say Jacob Gagan come though and dominate at NYC level at fullback and force the issue.
I don't think it matters where Jarryd plays, I think he is going to have an absolute block-buster year and it will not surprise me if he wins the Dally M again this year.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next